Confusing language in area of triangle section of book 3

[jm1]

In guide 3, chapt 3, it seems like it is trying to explain that the area of the triangle pictured three times at the bottom of the page can be calculated 3 different ways, but it doesn't actually say that and the language "even the area of a triangle can be affected" in the preceding paragraph is confusing. I first read that as saying it wouldn't be the same depending on what you use as the base and what you use as the height. Can you clarify?

[tommywallach]

Hey Jm,

Hmm. I think it's pretty clear, it's just a confusing topic!

All they are saying is that people often think that whatever is on the "bottom" of a triangle should be called "the base." But the truth is, if you spun the triangle around, you could make any side the base. However, the height would change as well, and the resulting area (1/2 * b * h) would of course be the same. It would have to be!

-t